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Seminar on the Role of South-South Cooperation in Agricultural

Development in Africa

Panel 3 – Agriculture, climate change and green growth in Africa: What role for Brazil?

Presentation by Dr Lindiwe Majele Sibanda, FANRPAN CEO policy@fanrpan.org

Brasilia, Brazil May 17-18th, 2012 2

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Presentation Outline

1. The Tropical Food Giant: Attributes and Drivers

2. The Game Changes for Brazil

3. Making it Happen in Africa

4. The Elephant in the Room for Both

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Attributes and Drivers of the Tropical Food Giant

1. Environment Matters (climate, land and water):• 30% of 8.51m ha classified as agricultural land.• 200 m ha dedicated to pastures & 25m ha dedicated for crops.• More spare land than any other country (400m).• 975mm rain per year for most farm lands.• Brazil has as much renewable water as the whole of Asia.• Suitable climate for agriculture.

2. R4D (EMBRAPA, EMBRAPA, EMBRAPA)• Public company setup in 1973.• Mauro Lopes’ ask “government to give US$20 to EMBRAPA for every US$50 it

saved by cutting subsidies”. • From breeding new seeds and cattle through to nanotechnology labs producing

wound dressings.

3. Public / Private Partnerships

4. Systematic Inclusive Approach

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The Game Changes for Brazil 1. Reclamation of the CERRADO:

• Recommended liming of soils 14 – 16m tons per year in the 1990s to 25m tons by 2004 (5tons of lime per hectare).

• Bread variety of rhizobum bacteria to help fix nitrogen in legumes and reduce fertilizer quantities.

2. Bold leadership (political will, policy & institutions)• 1990 scaling down of expenditures on price support and subsidize

credit• Market deregulation for wheat, sugar cane and coffee• Trade liberation on imports and exports• Producer support is 3% of the value of gross farm receipts• Preferential credits to the agricultural sector• Commodity loans and intervention purchases by government without

distorting the market

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The Game Changers for Brazil

3. Consistent and Long-term Investment in Research e.g.a) Improvement of brachiaria grass feed to 25 tons per hectare over 30

years• Imported brachiaria from Africa and invested on improving the productivity• Reduced birth to slaughter duration for beef steers from 4 years to 2 years• Now working on GM brachiaria

b) Turned soya beans into a tropical crop• Created soya that is tolerant to acid soils • Speeded up plant growing period, cutting 8 to 5 weeks of the growth cycle• Allowing 2 corps per year

c) Pioneered no-till agriculture• No-till was 2% of grains in 1990 today it is over 50%

d) Forest, agriculture and livestock integration

e) Imported cattle form Asia

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Making it Happen in Africa 1. Making farmlands suitable for farming

(CAADP Pillar 1):• Assessing and mapping soil fertility • Greening the soil • Investing in irrigation infrastructure to help adapt to a

changing climate• Promoting on farm water harvesting and storage

technologies

2. Research for Development (CAADP Pillar 4):• Adapt and then adopt suitable technologies• Appropriate match of crops to the climate, farm

environment and culture for now and the future• Present technology packages and not technology bullets

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Making it Happen in Africa 3. Policy, People and Institutions •Improved fit between technology and the user •Evidence based policies•Social protection for the vulnerable•Training to modernize agriculture•Affordable finance packages•Targeted subsidies•Engaging CSO and social movements

4. Public / Private Partnerships•Engagement of private sector in Africa is weak•Innovative models and conducive policy environment •Win-win solutions•Harmonized policies Africa-wide to help expand the market

5.Systems Approach for Modernizing Agriculture Recognizing:•Family farms ( subsistence); Commercial ; Large-scale

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MEGA CHALLENGES FOR BRAZIL & AFRICA

1. Rural Poverty

2. Poor Infrastructure (Farm To Market, Irrigation)

3. Illiteracy Hindering Development / Rural Diversification

4. Scaling Up Success Stories

5. Conserve the Environment

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The Elephant In The Room

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Africa can and should adopt and adapt from Brazil

THANK YOU!